HomeMy WebLinkAboutINS-11-096 - Victoria Park Lake Improvements - Noise Exemption.REPORT TO:Mayor C. Zehr and Members of Council
DATE OF MEETING:
December 5, 2011
SUBMITTED BY: John McBride, Director of Transportation Planning
PREPARED BY:
Stephanie Brasseur, Traffic Project Co-ordinator (741-2373)
WARD(S) INVOLVED: Ward 6 – West – Victoria Park
DATE OF REPORT: November 29, 2011
REPORT NO.:
INS-11-096
SUBJECT:
VICTORIA PARK LAKE IMPROVEMENTS – NOISE
EXEMPTION
RECOMMENDATION:
That City of Kitchener and its contractor(s) be exempt from the provisions of Chapter 450
Noise of the City of Kitchener Municipal Code Article 6 Construction Work during the
Victoria Park Lake Improvements project in the City of Kitchener. The request for the
noise by-law exemption is for the hours between 7:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. for the period
December 6, 2011 to March 31, 2012.
BACKGROUND:
The City of Kitchener’s Contract No. T10-080 will see improvements made to Victoria Park
Lake. The project has been scheduled for construction in the years 2011 and 2012.
We expect heavy truck traffic and elevated noise levels in the vicinity of Victoria Park between
November 2011 and the spring of 2012 as trucks remove the sediment from the Lake and bring
in construction supplies and equipment between November and March. Traffic controls will be
in place and residential access will be maintained.
REPORT:
During the preconstruction meeting it was discussed that some dewatering pumps may be
required in order to complete the work. The reason for this request is the dewatering
requirements associated with the project, may at times, require the operation of dewatering
pumps outside permitted bylaw hours. When required, the pumps will need to run twenty-four
(24) hours per day, seven (7) days per week. As we are approaching the winter season,
increased wet conditions will require these pumps to function and operate to pump the water.
The project timeline required for the operation of these pumps is from December 6, 2011 to
March 31, 2012.
í ó ï
This exemption is requested to complete certain operations of work to mitigate the impact of
construction.
The following contract condition addresses the need for the work to take place outside the
typical 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. permitted construction period:
As per the General Conditions GC-14 4.18 in the contract documents for T11-080 and to
allow workers safe access to the work area the excavation must always be maintained
free of water.
Communications through the City of Kitchener website, along with a twenty-four (24) hour
hotline has been set up prior to commencement, and this work has been communicated by
letter to all residents that will be directly affected. The webpage is
www.kitchener.ca/VictoriaParkLake and the city mailbox for the project is 519-741-3400
ext.3355.
SCOPE / STAGING OF WORK:
Noise Impact Details
A dewatering plan for gravity draining was submitted by the Contractor with direct pumping of
water as the dewatering action. Pumps will be located on the dewatering plan drawings,
however localized ponding of water, groundwater seepage and drainage sumps will, as
required, have pumps operating twenty-four (24) hours per day, seven (7) days per week to
ensure the excavation remains water free. The location and use of these pumps will vary as
work progresses around the lake area. The pumps will be required to be relocated as
necessary for areas of work. The pumps employed will be either electric with a diesel generator
or combustion powered pumps. The pumps will be moved on a regular basis and placed as
necessary to address the water pumping required and will not directly affect the neighbouring
homes.
Should these pumps generate noise to a level of concern, alternate protection measures will be
investigated and considered.
TYPE OF NOISE:
The majority of the noise will be created by the dewatering pumps in order to complete the work.
During the sediment removal, heavy trucks will haul loads through the neighbourhood during
permitted working hours (7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.). There may be extended work hours
implemented in order to accommodate an increased work schedule in each stage of the work.
Noise protocol will be followed, when possible, which covers administrative measures such as
scheduling of noisy activities at times of least impact, selection of haulage routes to minimize
close proximity to neighbours, and maintaining contact with residents.
In order to expedite the construction and allow extended hours of work to take place for
dewatering pumps for this project, we recommend that this request for a noise by-law exemption
be granted.
í ó î
DURATION:
All additional work will be assessed by City staff for allowing any extended hours and will be
defined as a benefit to the project. Council will be notified at least a minimum of 48 hours in
advance of the work as the need arises.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS:
None. Provisions have been included in the contract, encouraging the contractor to complete
this work as soon as reasonably possible.
COMMUNICATIONS:
The City of Kitchener and its contractor will communicate the expectation of extended working
hours to area residents / businesses and have been actively advising of any changes as they
develop. Communication updates will be provided on a regular basis.
CONCLUSION:
In order to expedite the construction and allow extended hours of work to take place for the
purpose of dewatering on this project, thereby minimizingdisruption and impacts of construction
on residents, we recommend that this request for a noise by-law exemption be granted.
SB
Attach.
ACKNOWLEDGED BY: Pauline Houston, Deputy CAO
Infrastructure Services Department
í ó í